Boston.com – WBUR poll shows Edward J. Markey leading Democratic race and Michael J. Sullivan ahead in the Republican run for US Senate nomination

US Representative Edward J. Markey is leading the race for the Democratic Senate nomination while former US attorney Michael J. Sullivan is ahead in the battle for the GOP nomination, according to a new WBUR poll released this morning.

Patriot Ledger – Report skewers Mass. on crime; some South Shore experts praise findings

A new report sharply critical of the state’s record on criminal justice, incarceration rates and recidivism is getting high marks from a prosecutor, a legislator, a sheriff and a former judge – all of them on the South Shore.

In 2011, nearly half of the inmates released from the state’s prisons and jails had no supervision, and many inmates leaving state and county cells were convicted on new charges within six years of their release, according to the report issued by MassINC, a Boston think tank.

MetroWest Daily News – Report: State criminal sentencing laws are costly with little benefit

With correction costs spiraling upwards, Massachusetts should impose a moratorium on state and county prison expansion, revisit its “tough on crime” sentencing laws and expand programs aimed at preventing recidivism, according to a report released Monday by MassINC and a new coalition helmed by prominent former criminal defense, prosecutorial and public safety officials.

Boston Magazine – Massachusetts Has a Terribly Outdated Criminal Justice System

Ever since Michael Dukakis saw his presidential campaign torpedoed over the furlough of convicted murderer Willie Horton, Massachusetts politicians have erred on the side of being tough on crime, pushing for mandatory minimum sentencing and tough parole boards.

Yesterday, think tank MassINC released a powerful study title “Crime, Cost, and Consequences: Is it Time to Get Smart on Crime?” which explores the data and expenses behind criminal justice policy in Massachusetts.

Boston.com – Mass. spends more on prisons, as crime rates drop

A new report is critical of Massachusetts for putting more people behind bars and spending more on prisons, even though the state’s violent crime rate is down dramatically.

The 40-page report commissioned by the nonpartisan MassInc research group says the percentage of Massachusetts residents behind bars has tripled since the early 1980s, as the state has clung to tough-on-crime laws and mandatory minimum sentences that other states have abandoned as ineffective.

Boston Globe – New report slams Mass. on correction reform

Despite steeply declining violent crime rates, the percentage of Massachusetts residents behind bars has tripled since the early 1980s, as the Commonwealth has clung to tough-on-crime laws that many other states have abandoned as ineffective, according to a study being released this week.

“It’s an odd set of numbers: crime going down while prison populations are still going up,” said Greg Torres, president of MassINC, the nonpartisan research group that commissioned the study. “What the report shows is that it’s a problem with the corrections system’s front and back doors — sentencing and release.”

Boston Globe – Richard Davey hits road to pitch transportation plan

Richard A. Davey, the state’s transportation secretary, has done a lot of traveling in the last few weeks. He’ll tell you that himself, as he did at a Department of Transportation meeting earlier this month.

A poll released March 14 by MassINC , a nonpartisan research group, estimated that just more than 60 percent of voters would be willing to pay $50 per year to fund long-term fixes for roads and public transportation, based on polls and focus groups over the past six months.

Fall River Herald – At UMD panel, speakers detail need for better bus service in region
Loss of economic opportunity, lack of access to health care facilities and a burden on the work force are just some of the problems with the region’s bus service detailed by speakers at a panel discussion on Thursday during a forum on investing in public transportation for economic growth.

The event was sponsored by the Boston-based think tank MassINC and held at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. MassINC also presented its findings on a study of improving regional transit authorities — including the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority — in Gateway Cities around the state.

South Coast Today – Bond bill brings hope for SRTA, commuter rail

SouthCoast politicians, community organizers and businessmen on Thursday stressed the potential regional impact of the transportation bond bill currently being considered by the state Legislature.

At a public forum and panel discussion on the importance of transportation investment, many spoke of their hope that the bill could increase funding to the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority.

The Daily Free Press – Patrick submits bill on transportation, has public support

In joint association with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick filed legislation Wednesday to fund infrastructure improvements over the next 10 years.

MassINC Polling Group released a study Thursday stating voters are open to the discussion of raising additional revenue for transportation improvements throughout the Commonwealth.

Telegram & Gazette – Forum touches on taxes, transit

Increasing public transportation offerings and access is crucial to economies in cities like Worcester, but meeting that demand must be tempered with the need to keep taxes low enough to help businesses grow, members of a forum at Clark University said Monday.

Framed around a recent Mass-INC report on investing in public transportation in Gateway Cities, called “Reinventing Transit,” the forum looked at ways to smartly offer more service to public transportation users, and spotlighted challenges riders face, particularly in lower-income populations.

Worcester Telegram & Gazette – Warren urges federal-cities partnerships

As the economy emerges from a great recession, the federal government is the best resource to get the country aimed in the right direction, Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Monday.

Sentinel & Enterprise – Warren: Government should act as a partner with Gateway Cities

Government should act as a good partner to finance improvements in education, research and infrastructure that will spur private investment in these and other areas, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Monday.

Brockton Enterprise – Sen. Warren: Gateway Cities have a lot of power, promise
While special interest groups dole out big money for lobbyists to advance their cause, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren said the results of November’s election showed the state’s Gateway Cities also have power in numbers.

The nonprofit think tank MassInc (Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth) is spearheading the Gateway Cities Innovation Institute, which is committed to helping a group of Gateway City leaders prepare a skilled workforce, improve public safety, advance community health and build the infrastructure for its economy.

Springfield Republican – Senator Elizabeth Warren says investments, like those proposed by Gov. Patrick in conjunction with tax hike, crucial to survival of gateway cities in Massachusetts

During a conversation with the editors of news outlets from the state’s struggling gateway cities, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said that she believes intelligent investments are the only way to ensure their survival and potentially spark their resurgence.

The meeting was organized by Bruce Mohl, the editor of CommonWealth Magazine, and served as the jumping-off point of a larger, still-developing collaboration between the news organizations and interested parties like the non-profit Mass. INC.

The Lowell Sun – Making a case for investing in RTAs

Motorists in Massachusetts spend $5.4 billion on gasoline per year, and only a small fraction it (gas taxes, station employees’ wages) winds up benefiting the local economy.

The findings are part of an interesting study authored by Ben Forman, the research director at MassINC, a nonprofit think tank. Forman’s study, “Reinventing Transit: Investing in Regional Transportation Authorities for Stronger Gateway Economies,” was discussed Wednesday at a public forum in Lowell.

GoLocalWorcester – Report: Better Public Transit Could Boost MA’s Gateway City Economies

MassINC and the Gateway Cities Innovation Institute released a new report showing just how much public transit is affecting growth in Mass. Gateway Cities, like Worcester.

The Lynn Daily Item – Transportation needs take focus at NSCC forum

The need to address the city’s public transportation shortcomings topped the agenda when MassINC brought its traveling forum to North Shore Community College Thursday.

Sentinel and Enterprise – Poll: Most see trans system as fair or good, half willing to pay $100 more
Roughly half of voters are generally receptive to the idea of paying $100 more per year in taxes to improve the conditions of roads and public transit in Massachusetts, according to new research published by MassINC Polling group that shows varying levels of support for different means of generating additional tax revenue.

Lowell Sun – Study: Transit funding shifts job growth into gear

It could be a streetcar system that whisks riders from the Gallagher Terminal to downtown shops and lofts in a matter of minutes.

On Tuesday, a panel of local transportation and real-estate leaders gathered at the United Teen Equality Center to discuss such ideas following the release of a transit study from MassINC pointing out how a strong public-transportation system is critical to job growth in midsize Bay State cities like Lowell.

Sentinel & Enterprise – Bill would favor kids of guards in hiring

A bill backed by area legislators would give hiring preference to the children of corrections officers killed on duty — an advantage that is already provided to families of police officers and firefighters.

“Instead of hiring on merit, we hire on the basis of nepotism, favoritism and political influence,” O’Leary wrote in a 2004 issue of CommonWealth magazine.

Worcester Telegram & Gazette In Fitchburg, state transit improvements discussed

Last night, Ann T. Berube left a public forum and panel discussion at Fitchburg State University on regional transportation investments in Massachusetts Gateway Cities at Fitchburg State University feeling frustrated.

The forum was attended by state and local officials, business leaders and nonprofit heads. As part of the event, MassINC, an independent research group, presented a report that provides a roadmap for how new public resources in regional transit can be invested with a focus on improving the economic performance of gateway cities like Fitchburg and Leominster.

Sentinel & Enterprise – Officials at Fitchburg State forum: More cash should be in transit

Local and state officials agree that investing in public transportation will lead to economic growth in Gateway Cities. How to fund those improvements is something else altogether.

In a forum hosted by MassINC and Transportation for Massachusetts held at Fitchburg State University on Monday, elected officials and transportation, business and education leaders discussed the chronic underfunding of regional transit authorities, or RTAs, the effect on the region, and how revenue might be raised to increase services provided by the Montachusett Regional Transit Authority, or MART.

Sentinel & Enterprise – MassINC to hold Gateway Cities forum at FSU
MassINC and Transportation for Massachusetts will hold a public forum and panel discussion on regional transportation investments in Gateway Cities at Fitchburg State University from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Monday.

Sentinel & Enterprise – MassINC says public transportation fuels economy
According to a MassINC report released last week, public transportation improvements could attract businesses and residents to cities like Fitchburg and Leominster, as well as help to lower the unemployment rates these Gateway Cities face.

Fall River Herald – OUR VIEW Getting on board with better public transit

In the case of SRTA, hours of operation simply don’t match the hours many people work.

MassINC’s report lays out a variety of common sense, data-driven reform recommendations about making public transit more effective and appealing, including connecting with other neighboring transit networks so that riders can seamlessly make connections.

WAMC – Think Tank Urges Transportation Investment in Mass. Gateway Cities

A new report by Massachusetts think-tank MassINC shows a significant economic impact from the lack of adequate public transportation available in Gateway Cities.

South Coast Today – Gateway Cities report ties transportation to economic health

A new MassINC report provides a road map for putting transportation funds to better use in once-prosperous industrial cities that have fallen on hard times and need an economic boost.

Fall River Herald – State must reinvest in Fall River transportation
For residents in the Gateway Cities of Fall River and Taunton, it may not come as a surprise, but a report released Tuesday by MassINC says inadequate public transportation in those communities causes service gaps for the employed, doubled commute times, and is a factor in lower-than-average work force participation.

Taunton Daily Gazette – Report State must invest in Taunton transportation

For residents in the Gateway Cities of Fall River and Taunton, it may not come as a surprise, but a report released Tuesday by MassINC says inadequate public transportation in those communities causes service gaps for the employed, doubled commute times, and is a factor in lower-than-average work force participation.